Best available cop



F. H. GIBBS. COMPARTMENT RAILWAY CAR.

Patented Aug. 1, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

APPUCATION FILED NOV. 25, l9l4.

IN VEN TOR.'

En? n i F. H. GIBBS.

COMPARTMENT RAILWAY CAR.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 25| |914- *1 l I., E 93,254. Patented Aug. 1, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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3 Fllg4 1.". 'EN TOR.

@QT H. {igML UNrrED s'rafras PATENT oFEicE. v.

FREDERICK H. GIBBS, 0F NEW YORK, N. Y. l

COMPAETMENT RAILWAY-can Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 1, 1916.

Application filed November 25, 1914. Serial No. 873,993.'

i preferred form of the invention; though it is .to be understood that the invention is not limited to the 'exact details of construction shown and described, as it is obvious that various modifications thereof will occur to persons skilled in the art.

1 In said drawings Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of oneend of 2 is a transverse view of Fig. 1, taken on line a car body equipped with the invention; Fig.

2 2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is fragmentary 11- i which the interior of the car body, preferably `larged detail view of parts which would .be .shown in a, sectional View, the section taken on line 3-3 of Fig. l; Fig. 4 is a diagrammatical illustration of a car body showing position ofthe bulkhead and closure hereinafter' described.; Fig. 5 illustrates a detail modification.

The invention comprises a car body primarily adapted to carry lading which may be of different kinds, vsuch as package goods and grain, or any kinds of commodities which owing to their nature are best separated to a greater or. less extent during shipment.

The invention contemplates a structure in between the end walls, is separated, by means of a movable bulkheador bulkheads, into a plurality of compartments of which that near the middle of the car body shall be adapted to` receive lading through the side door orv doors which are usually near the middle of the length of the car and that compartment, or the pair of compartments,

near the ends shall receive lading throughV other openings, as for example, through the roof of the car body.

While it may be an advantage to divide freight for better preservation during shipment it is also advantageous to adapt the car to receive a full'load in a single compartment extending from end wall to end Wall.`

The end compartment interior will be practically inaccessible from the interiory middle compartment after the movablebulkheads hereinafter refer-redt() are-in vertical.

position, hence it is preferred that the openings leading to such end compartments shall be 4automatically uncovered while the bulkheads dividing theend and middle compart- A ments are being moved to vertical 'positions so as to leave ungua'rded from theinterior such roof openings sothat grain, coal, or any suitable material may be passed through the roof openings to the interior of theend compartments, after which, ifA desired, any suitable outer roof covering (not shown) may be placed in position to close the lingress openings to such end compartmentsQ-,or the closure herein referred to may be caused to register with the roof '.opening.-

If desired,the lading in `the middlieJ comi partinent of the car may be Afirst removed and the bulkheads liftedso as to afford ready access to the lading in the end compartments, or such lading may be removedin any other suitable manner, as through bottom drop doors (not shown) or throtgh side doors. "if

The roof openin s being preferably. automatically uncover from the interior While thebulkheads are being placed in vertical positions, it becomes desirable to close such openings when the bulkheads are being ele- I vated to merge the interior compartments into a single compartment extending from end wallto end wall, and to this end means are provided for swinging the bulkheads horizontal positions near theroof and above the ordinary load line, and associated means` are provided for moving the closures for the' roof openings intoregistry with such roof openings preferably during the. time the bulkheads are being swung from such verti- .cal positions' to other'positionsabove the load line, or near the roof of the oar.

It is to be understoodthat the invention contemplates broadly a'swinging bulkhead or partition and a closure connected therewith in such manner that swinging' the bulkhead from vertical to horizontal position will automatically actuate the closure in a suitable direction to place the closure in proper position with relation to the opening leading to the end compartment, and whil" I have illustrated convenient means for auto matically actuating a closure by means adapted to actuate a bulkhead, it isto be understood that the closure may be actuated from their vertical positions to relatively in either direction independently vof the bulkhead by merely disconnecting the cables, shown, fromi'suh bulkhead before rotating the driving shaft by the means hereinafter 5 described.

`Thus the bulkhead may be lifted and the closure subsequently opened and closed in'dependently of the vmovement of the bulkhead while the bulkhead is locked in elevated po- 7 10 sition by suitable engaging means, or the clotrated, it is adapted to travel longitudinally of the car body and under the no rmal car roof, diagrammatically shown, and means are provided to hold the closure in operative position.

The bulkhead may be elevated by any convenient means, or manually if desired, and

B0 the closure may be of any `desired form 'though for convenience it is preferred that the closure shall consist of aslide adapted to travel over the top ofthe Vbulkhead during movement of the latter and be capable of '85 operative connection with the bulkhead so that lifting the bulkhead to position above the normal load line will automatically cause the proper movement of the closure. Referring to the parts 1, 3, 1a and 2 in- 40 dicate, respectively, the car floor, roof, side walls and end walls. Preferably at each end of the car the roof is provided with an opening 4 of sufficient area to permit the in- Y sertionl therethrough of a grain conduit, or of large pieces of coal, ore, or any suitable material.

Secured to the side walls 1l are .channelshaped trackways 18 having their flanges Y projected inwardly, andmounted in position to travel on said trackways are rollers 18, which carry relatively rectangulark carriages, slides or closures 19, which are of an area sulliciently larger than said openings to insure complete registration of the-slides or closures with such openings when desired to thus close the openings. l

The closures preferably ride below the top flanges of the channels and extend between the top and bottom channel flanges, thereby 60 utilizing the channels as supports and guides for the closures, as well as providing means I to prevent vertical displacement of such closures.

' i `bulleted or parution s which may be aupa- Suitably supportedcin the car body is av cated at opposite ends of the car, if desired, or one or more bulkheads may be positioned near the middle door so as to divide the interior of the car body into two or more equal or unequal compartments, as may be desired.

To support the bulkhead 6 castings 13 are. provided, said castings having recesses in their upper side in which are seated the trunnions 14, extending from the castings 7, embracing the upper end of and bolted to 75. the bulkhead. Said trunnions serve as supporting pivots on which the bulkhead o r bulkheadsrareradapted to swing from the vertical position shown in Figs. 1 and4' to the approximately horizontal ositionsindicated by dotted lines in such gures.

The bulkhead may be of any preferred construction and is shown as comprising,- vertical posts 15 with an intermediate wall` or filler which, it will be noted, terminates 35 intermediate lthe floor and the operating mechanism hereinafter described, so that the slide or closure may pass above the topl of the bulkhead in its movement fore and aft. Y

Extending longitudinally of the car body, 903 one at each iside, are the channel-shaped..- trackways`8lnvwhieh slides the carriage 19, which comprises transverse end members 20 and 21, in which are seated the panel member 22 of 'said carriage. Extending 9'5 transversely of the car is a shaft 25, which is supported near itsopposite ends in brackets 26, preferably secured to the roof lining or inner roof.

.The brackets 26 comprise the depending leg portions 28, which are in alinement and are provided with suitable bearings for supporting said shafts 25. l

Secured on lthe shaft 25 are suitable drums 35, on which may be wound the cable 36, which is connected by snap hooks 36L with rings 36b secured to the lower portion of said bulkheads 6 so that rotation pf `the 1;, shaftmay rotate the drums, wind the cables thereon and elevatethe lower ends of the bulkheads.

Carried von the' shaft 25- near each end thereof is a sprocket wheel 37, preferably fast on said shaft and rotatable therewith." Adapted .to be actuated by the` sprocket wheels 37 are sprocket chains 39, which are each connected atoneend with a depending bracket 40.0n said carriage, said chains passing around the sprockets 37, thence towardV the end of the car. around the idler sprockets 12 0:1,

42, which may be, as shown, supported by bracket 43, attachedV` to the end wall, or in any suitable manner, so ythat t-he sprocket chainsmay pass over said sprockets 42 and A thence to the brackets 44 attached tov and de- 12 pending from the'end of said carriage or closure.

The shaft vmaybe actuated in any suitableg, manner, but, for convenience, I have shown' a chain-drives4 worm and worm-wheel which 130 thereof.

is attachedto the shaft 25, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 2, in which a chainswheel Si() is adapted to be rotated bymeans of the links `.of the chain 51 nesting into pockets in the of said Wheel to cause rotation The chainwheel is adapted to drive the worm 31, meshing with the wormperiphery wheel 30, and said worm is formed on the wheel 50 in a corresponding directioiii, there-4 by rotating the worm and worm-wheel, before indicated.

Assuming the parts are in the position indicated in full lines, rotation of the wheel 5() in the proper direction will, through the worm and Worm-wheel, cause rotation of the shaft 25, whereupon the cable 36 will normally Wind on the drum 37, lifting the' bulkhead to the dot and dash position indicated in Fig. 1, at the same time rotatingthe sprockets 37 and driving the sprocketchain in proper direction to automatically propel the carriage or closure to position in registration with the opening 4, indicated in the roof.

Under normal conditions, assuming 'the pitch of the worm and worm-wheel teeth is correct, there will be suilicient friction therebetween to prevent the bulkhead again falling to vertical position and no bulkhead Supporting latch near the middle of the car will be requlred, but for convenience of in-,i

the carbody through the ventilator.

dependent operation of the closure, means are provided for locking the bulkhead in its elevated position, said means consisting 'of a hook 36, suitably supported and adapted y to engage the ring 36", before mentioned.

`When the bulkhead is locked in its elevated position and when it occupies a vertical position, the carriage or closure may be actuated independently of the bulkhead by merely disengaging the snap hooks 36a from may rothrough cable 36.

To support and guide the sprocket chains intermediate the idler 43 and the shaft 25, a4 Z-shaped section 70a either rolled or pressed, is secured to each side wall of the car and, as shown in Fig. 1, this guideway extends preferably unbroken from end to end. except that at 70" the lower attaching' flange is cut away to permit clearance for the trunnions supporting the bulkheads in case it may be desirable to remove such bulkheads for any purpose.

1f desired,-clutches as 60, or of any suitable type, may be provided on the shaft 25 is proximity to the Asprocket wheels ,37, so that the sprockets may be permitted'to ro- 'of thel roofopening;A 4.,

tate idly on shat'L 25 and permit manipulation of' the bulkhead through the lifting means described, without causing movement of the closures.v Fig. 5 illustrates such modification, in* which indicates a two part clutch on shaft 25, one part of the clutch being connected to a sprocket whee 37 and theother part beingmovable under be sup suitable control of the lever 61, which may ported from the bracket, or in any manner. i

Thus the device mayoperate to automatically actuate the closure duringv swinging movement of the bulkhead or, by the same shaft and shaft driving means, the bulkhead and the closure may be independently actaated as may be'desired.

In Fig. 1 is `illustrated a ventilator 8G 'connected to the car roof by suitable hinges 81 so that it -may be thrown, on its hinges, overtoward the middle portion of the roei'. and thereby afford access to the roof opening 4 when desired. No claim is made 'to the details of construction or" the ventilator', whichincludesa screen 82 and slats 83, shown ,merely to illustrate one yof the uses 4 In'this connection it maybe well to note the factthat the increase 'in metal ear construction has increased the need of suitable means Jfor veu- Vtilating the interior of such cars, and the combination of a fixed ventilator structure and a movable damper-as the closure 19 affords convenient means for regulating the ventilation of the car body of this application, there being ample space for circulation of air over the bulkhead after entering may be used or what may be its details et,

construction.

It is obvious that the slide or closure ma be used in a structure in which there are no bulkheads, and it is equally obvious that the bulkhead may be used in a structure from which the slide lor closure is omit Affl and either' or both may be operated by tue specific actuating means herein described and claimedso far as such means relates io the bulkhead or closure operation.

The motor employed for lifting the bulk head in the present instance comprises te worm-gearing and shaft 25,hereinbefore scribed. rIfhis is supported in position near the roof of the car and above the normal load line, so as to leave the entire interi-:ir portion at theioor and sides of the cari as high as lading is carried, free from all obstructions, An

added advantage in placing a swinging bulkadapted to synchronize movement .of saidV bulkhead and closure.

2. In a railway vcar body, a swinging bulkhead, a closure adapted to opening in the roofrof said car body, and synchronically operated means adapted to lift said bulkhead and to actuate said closure.

3. In a railway car body, a swinging bulkhead, a closure synchronically operable'therewith, and a `motor adapted for individual operation of said bulkhead or sa-id closure.

4. In a railway car body, a swinging bulkhead, a synchronically slidable closure, and means adapted to operate either ont of them without causing movement of the other.

In a railway car body, a bulkhead adapted to divide said car body intoa plurality of compartments, a closure for an 'no'. enin in one of said/com artments and Worm-driven means adapted to actuate either said bulkhead or said closure independently of the other. A A

6. In a railway car body, a bulkhead adapted to divide said body into a plurality of compartments, a olosureadapted to register with an opening in the roof of said car f so body, and worm-driven means adapted to actuate said closure, said means also being adapted to lift said bulkhead to a position near said roof. f

7. In a railway car body, a swinging bulk-1v head adapted to divide said car body into a plurality of compartments, a closure for an opening in a roofof said car body, av shaft, and means operably connected with said shaft adapted to cause differential movement of said bulkhead and closure.

8.` In combination, Y.af-'s car body, means adapted' to divide it into a plurality of compartments, means adapted to register with an opening in the roof. of the car body, and means adapted to synchronical'ly actuate said lirst mentioned means in one, direction and the second mentioned means in another direction.

9. In combination, a bulkhead adapted to occupy a vertical position and to occupy a horizontal position, a member adapted to traverse a path relatively above said bulk-l head and to register Withan opening in thereof of a car, and a motor operatively con-v nccted with said bulkhead and member and register with an adapted to lift saidbulkhead'from verticaly to horizontal. position and to cause said 1l. In a carbody, a bulkhead adapted to 'A occupy a position near the top of said body,

a member adapted to traverse'a path above said bulkhead, ajmotor supported in position abdve the space in said body to' be occupied byv lading, and means operatively connecting lsaid bulkhead and saidmember.

12. In a railway car, abulkhead adapted to occupy lboth vertical and relatively horizontal positions therein, a closure for an opening insaid car,

and flexible means `connecting Ysaid bulkhead and closure withsaid motor to permit operation thereoby said motor. v

13. In a railWay car body, a partition adapted to separate said body into different ka Worm driven motor,

compartments, a motor in one compartmentf'ob and/ a closure adapted to be actuated by said motor to traverse a predetermined path in another compartment.

14. Ina car body,'a -roof' with openings therein end Walls, a pair of bulkheads adapted'to divide said body into three compartments intermediate said end Walls, means adapted to lift said bulkheads to positions near the roof, thereby producing a single compartment extending from end wall Vto end wall, and closures forsaid roof f openings operatively connected with the means adapted to lift said bulkheads.

15. In a railway car, side and end Walls and a roof` with an opening therein, a bulkhead adapted to divide said car into a plurality of compartments intermediate said end Walls, a slidable'closure for said roof opening, a shaft operatively connected with said bulkhead and with said closure', and a worm-gear operatively connected with said shaft.

16. In a car body, a vertically disposed bulkhead adapted to divide said body into a plurality of compartments, aclosure for an opening in one compartment, and means operable in another compartment adapted to move said closure while said bulkhead is fixedly held in position. l

17. A car body divisible into, end oompartments and a middle compartment, bulkheads adapted to so divide said car body, closures for openings leading to said end compartments, and means -in said middle compartment adapted to move said closures relatively to said openings while th@bu lk heads are held in fixed positions.-

18. In combination in a railway car,

spaced side Walls having a door opening, a

shaft extending'transversely of Saidlcar and positioned vertically above said opening, a worin-wheel on said shaft, a worm in mes with said worin-wheel, said worm shaft, a partitionextending between said side walls, and means connecting the partition with said shaft whereby the partition can be lifted upon "rotation ofthe driving wheel.

19. In combination in a railway car, spaced side walls and a roof, a bracket depending fromjsaid roof, a worm and a worm-wheel rotatably supported in said bracket, a driving wheel Connected. with and adapted to drive the worm, a shaft extending transversely of the car through said worm-wheel, a partition extending transa driving wheel on versely of the car and means connectingthe shaft and partition.

20. In combination'ina railway car, side and end walls, and a roof having an opening for ventilation, a' `ventilated cover for said opening above said roof, a elosurejor said opening within the ear, a bulkhead pivotally supported between said side walls and lifting means adapted to lift said bulkhead to position near said roof.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two witnesses.

FREDERICK H. GIBBS.

VVit'nesses:

S. W. TUTTLE, H. C. WICK. 

